New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-06
MIR. COX ON TURKEY.
IT'S CONDITION AND IT'S SOCIAL LIFE.

s,M1rI = cox late American Minister to turkey
$40. Charles l. Webster'& 20.
Mr.. Cox has written a large. and, IN spite OF the
title. an ambitions wolk not merely about MS al
ventures in COnstantnople but on the history
condition and prospects of the Turkish Empire the
character of its mixed population, and their re-
hoioos. culture and social customs lie has
gathered great deal of information on these ana
other points and presented it with blessed econo-
nv Of puns and an air of serious purpose He is
dlfnse and incOnsequential, and his style has no
literary quality; but many of the facts when lie
prints are interesting and curious and his opinions
deserve attention as those OF shrcwd. though soho
times over-enthusiastic, observer. lie mas warm
admiration for the regning Sultan, uhoer "noso
Just aud liberal administration he beleVes 'n''
reform in Turkey is making great progress; but we
do not learn upon what data MI COX iouhus HIS
conclusions, nor how far his Investigations cA
tended. HIS Majesty at any rate was sulhc'cn'S
enlightened to treat our Minister with the utmost
frepdIiness. and to entertain him handsomely al tne
palace. 1.-THE Sultan" says Mr. Cox. " is one oil the
most industrious, painstaking, honest, conScl-
entions and vicilant rncrs of the world. lie IS
amiable and lust withal. tbs every word betokens
good heart and sagaciOus head Our Minister
had an opportunity of presenting to Ills Majesty
stereoscopc as gift from the President, together
with remarkable collection of views ana the
ponderous volume of the Census-the whole series
of ten reports. including census blanks, lhstruc-
tionS, etc. The photographs delighted the sultan;
the portraits of American Indians amazed MIN
and the census reports determined MN 10 nave
census of his own. for which he gave
orders on the spot, engaging MIR. Cox 10 hcip wien
his advice The estimate of the Turkish subject Is
hardly less favorable than that of bis ruler:
Judeing by the thousands of sold ers whom saw
oftcr the emeate III Bu gaTa in 1850, ana by ne
physique aud robustness OF those VINO every III
day. pass oar Legation on their way 10 ne oacInlhi
think that the average Turk Is IN contented anu
healthy state lie shows an equable temper and
regular hfe His rcheious observances and grave
countenance give to his habitual reserve not merely
the outward sign, but the inward KINDNESS Jo'Iou
with an easy manner suppose ne d nG.
the love of ease; suppose; ne sunSose "f hs
mental faculties are not fully developed ana
sophisticated; suppose he does Toll upon dlVah
and pass the time with his guests In talking OF IN
different things; suppose he Is content win MS
chbOuquc and coffee, his mosque, Dath ana lepei.
tlous prayers, his game of chess or bachpa,nnion'
suppose he is eager to listen to the OLD taics
proverbs and parallels or reyelS IN the enJoVmehI
of his asroogles and his paf-it may be san OF
him that when he comes down TO Work as me-
chanlc or merchant, he is honest and fslr IN his Ia
Dor and dealings. As a farmer he serenelV pIouGus
his fields and reaps his haryests anna lne V,ciss
tudes OF his lot and his trials with the
AT home he is model OF domestic tenderness
toward his family and loyal to his sovereign ana
religion. I'm summing up his character the quail
Ties of patience candOr, cOntentment and Teslgna-
ton are onspicuous beyond those Of any other
race upon the footstooi If the reHHon OF .no
Koran pervades every act of his lie ana mixes
with his every occupation: II his prayer, b{ us
frequent dropping. wears away the stonlness oI us
heart still he preserves the rcnnemcnt ana nospI-
taIitv that belong to the Orient. He will give TO
his guests all that ne has" eggs. fruit coffee,
bread, fish. honey with Scio wlne ana all lor ioVe'
not money"
Ofthe Turkish woman Mr.. Cox gives the oracu ar
opinion that she is neither so bad nor so good rs
she is painted. Her one prevailing quality seems
70 be that she is good eater. She has just enoagh
VANITY to be interesting She Is not perlously
coouettIsh and the current stories of lutrigues Oh
the Lar4m are entitled to no considerations On
the contrary the Turkish woman IS an obedient
wife and fond mother, frivolous in her amu'e-
ments for she is 10 more than grown child, but
happy enough in her seciuslon. with needlework.
housework Studies baths, "cnltivatlon OF the
love ofiewclry, flowers and toilet" me iitations
upon nature aud "pous thoughts" This IS
nleas,ng picture and we trust there IS no mistake
about the piOus thoughts
There i, Of course nothing among the Turks cor
responding to what call society, and even the
intercourse among foreigners IN Constantinopie
seemed TO Mr. Cox rather dull. The Turk. how
ever, is no ,pltabe. He seldom dimes alone. aad
we have this entertaining account of a banquet IN
high life:
and his eunuch. or aga brings him chased SILVER
basin and ever. After the Ore4tal method water
Is poured upon the hands Another seIVan, oiI"Ss
In a coIA-embr lidcred napkin; then drawing uP a
low table which Is becoming common now I'D our
Western households as an arilce OF Drlc-a-otac' :
beng nlaid with mOther-ot-peari. an attenhahI
places upon this tie waiter loader with Inc rcpd't
There are many shes 70 suit a variety OF tastes.
4 fayorte dish Is a lamb roasted whole. IL Is
stuie1 with rice. ralsins a1d the faVOrllc plSltcho
mt This nut l. sold upon the streets OF Cons au-
tinOplc "a commonly a. the peanut In NcW-l oih'
Ii - the pear OF jOd tli1gS. Then comes cell
cate dish o, small fish and there IS no pace eqlal
to the Bosporus for tins article Egg plant, II II D,
IN season, appears Tied In on, ana loll0%eH Nv
hash Is by no means to be dcrded.
Tor it is neither secondhand nor equiy9cal'
Hash no is '' an cIemen, Of rhat dish Hash and
mutton is the niece de resistance Rice Is served with
II, as well as w,th rabbit and DO h are cooked IN
vine leaves Then we have chlr ken breasts steven
i'm roso water and cakes OF Hour ana sugar or
dough- syTcotencd and cooked Theme come the lcIIes'
the shrrbct tie exquisite rOsc preserves ana var,
Ous "dulcet syrup. ilLci with thc cilhalfo n
Nothing equals the rose preserves III tue eve OF thc
Oriental housewife; and here by way OIL P'rentir-
SIS IL is jas; 10 say that the EouscWlierY Oi INC
Turkish marion cannot be oVcTrdled Hhe mas huch
TO do aud does # we'll There are anu nber OF sile
,.bes III small Sanccrs-mOst OF them delicate and
unfamiliar to us 10 crown the rep"st coincs the
pilaC This is a dish o rice seasoned wlth Dutfer
and tomato juice, N accordance VITA an lhVarioie
Gus ON At every meal. -. , -,
il not this jaenu . sign Of advanced civilization
Is not tins feast fit for Luculiusf One OF these
Eastern dishes has as much pdiIlOuc mayor as tHc
roast beef of Old England. the frogs of France. the
Ola Of Spin, or tie hog and honiny OF America
1t Is the pienteous pitGf, the national dlsh H. Is
worthy of all accep.a,Ion. 1t Is som Tunes spcIed
piHaq, bat generally pronounced plat. 1t ~. On
ever Turk sh table. 1t NAV be mado IN various
WAYS but its very soul consists IN the essences aud
sauces winch belong to tie slowed meats, over
which plain boiled rice is poured. ] he rice is as
white as tho unboted snow of Boreas. TO TURK
ish or Arab peasant or soldier dish Of pitW Is a
feast Of the gods and prepared here IN the East
would alOrn a DeimOnlcO dinner.
am not aware that the Roman gourmand ever
ate with his fingers, nor have | ever seen any
classic announcement of the number OF tunes 10 MS
forx: but il will hc many decades before the Turk
gives ND the habit of eating with his fingers, or
regarding the knife, fork and spoon as otherwise
THAI unhandy tableware-wastefui ana rid'cu-
lOus. ~ ~
Are there any liquids on the tablet No. No
hottlca M nj fclcT>i No only large glass %